Mahmoud Abouzeid: Optimism reigns on streets of Egypt

CAIRO—People in the North African nation of Egypt, with an exploding population of more than 85 million, are doing better generally than they were before ironman Hosni Mubarak's ouster almost 22 months ago, and the future looks good.

As one observer put it, Egyptians, like many people, love to bellyache and now they get to do it without fear of serious retribution.

It is a country with an average age somewhere in the 20s and with new confidence generated by the virtually bloodless coup that overthrew a regime deeply entrenched for three decades. The future, though likely to be bumpy, looks decidedly bright. The young are much more resilient and spirited than the older generations, who are likely to be just comfortable enough to resist rocking the boat.

One young man who owns a busy construction company with his father pointed out that though he has no more confidence in the present government than he did in the last, he chooses to live in Egypt rather than Germany, where he has citizenship as well.

"The system here remains broken, but I love my country — the people, close family connections and friends," he said.

Another young man, a petroleum engineer who works for an American drilling company, agreed that not much has changed as far as government is concerned, but that people generally feel more secure now that law enforcement and police have returned to the streets and relative quiet has been restored. His fiancée, who works for a local bank, pointed out that employment opportunities seem to be less available as many businesses downsize and the economy seems to be in a wait-and-see mode.

Older, more established Egyptians seem to be less comfortable and more threatened by the Morsi regime, possibly for fear that their own spheres of influence, most important in this class-conscious society, are at risk. Yet, as a group, even they continue to prefer life in their homeland to what they experience when traveling in Europe and North America.

In contrast is a middle-aged Cairo businessman, who holds an American passport. He beams with optimism, convinced that the new regime, repeatedly challenged by the younger generation, will uplift Egypt and the Egyptian psyche. He points to the pending constitution, which is still in draft form — and which, he adds, most people haven't bothered to read. He describes it as a model for good government.

His American-born wife, who teaches English, prefers life here to her native Chicago or California, where she and her husband met. Like most people, she was influenced by family and friendship ties that are so compelling in this culture.

The U.S. election was front and center in Egypt and the Obama victory has been greeted with elation by most people. The view here is a Romney victory would have spelled disaster for American relations throughout the Arab world. Not lost on anyone was Mitt Romney's close ties to the despised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, going back to their days together at the Boston Consulting Group in the 1970s. The fact that Israelis preferred the Republican candidate by a whopping 86 percent of those polled was of prime concern to Egyptians.

An attack on Iran was seen as virtually certain under a hawkish Republican administration, along with an offensive, hardline, colonial-style approach to diplomacy generally. That would no longer be tolerated, and while the American soft-gloves diplomacy perceived for the past few years has been welcomed, Egyptians and the Arab world increasingly regard the support provided to Israel as increasingly untenable, especially considering its widening territorial expansion at the Palestinian people's expense.

While there is a sizable fanatic religious fringe quite evident and outspoken, it is definitely not in control of the new government any more than the tea party has influence beyond a definable section of society in America.

More and more the ultra conservatives find themselves facing pushback from the average Egyptian, who is not about to surrender to some of their conservative tenets.

On the other hand, there is a noticeable pullback against the further spread of Western influence and "culture" as exemplified by the increased presence of fast-food chains and coffeehouses (McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Hardees, Chili's and, of course, Starbucks) and, believe it or not, the introduction of Egyptian rap music.

Oppressed for most of a century and a half, feeling as though their resources have been looted and their beliefs and dignity ridiculed and compromised by corrupt internal and outside interests, Egyptians seem resolved that it is time for change.

A majority would prefer Western influence to recede and for the country to embark on a saner, healthier, more compassionate path. It remains to be seen whether the new leadership is up to the enormous task or whether further radical intervention will be necessary.

One thing for sure: Egypt is not destined to be another Iran. The people will not permit it. Nor will they permit the Western form of cutthroat capitalism to gain further inroads.

Mahmoud Abouzeid, who is currently traveling in Egypt, is a former reporter and editor who has practiced law for 36 years. He lives in Carmel.